David certainly would have killed Nabal and it is certain that God will judge the sinner who continues to reject Him. It also seems that Abigail saw David first, and when David first saw her, she was humbled before him, at the head of a great train of gifts and provisions. i. "In a wide sense, … 1 Samuel Chapter 25. Samuel died--After a long life of piety and public usefulness, he left behind him a reputation which ranks him among the greatest of Scripture worthies. It wasn’t directly sin, because God hadn’t commanded against it. NABAL'S DEATH. Scripture David was on the run from King Saul, who wanted to kill David. And please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant. Article Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. God-fearing women, tender and gentle in the sensibilities, high-minded and noble in their ideals, become tied in an indissoluble union with men for whom they can have no true affinity, even if they have not an unconquerable repugnance.” (Meyer), ii. Now therefore, know and consider what you will do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his household. You can check these in your browser security settings. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. She said, “David, you are like a bundle that the LORD holds closely and securely to Himself. You will find these questions on the Internet at www.usefulbible.com. In 1 Samuel 25:33, David was grateful that Abigail’s appeal had kept him from avenging myself with my own hand. Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. b. The district takes its name from this town, now a mass of ruins; and about a mile from it is Tell Main, the hillock on which stood ancient Maon. the man was very great--His property consisted in cattle, and he was considered wealthy, according to the ideas of that age. 37, 38. in the morning . vi. Together, 1 and 2 Samuel form one book in the Hebrew Bible. God would have us bear insults with love and kindness, returning their evil with our good. Now Eli the priest … When the servants of David had come to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her saying, “David sent us to you, to ask you to become his wife.” Then she arose, bowed her face to the earth, and said, “Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” So Abigail rose in haste and rode on a donkey, attended by five of her maidens; and she followed the messengers of David, and became his wife. He performed a worthy, valuable service for Nabal and expected to be compensated. The Greek translation of the Bible, the Septuagint, was the first version to divide the material into two parts. Abigail’s appeal to David was so glorious because it lifted him up instead of beating him down. The man was very rich. “All which time he lay like a block in his bed, without repentance or confidence in God; but condemned of his own conscience, he went to his place without noise. This is high ground to walk on, but it is commanded by Jesus: Whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. i. 23. she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face--Dismounting in presence of a superior is the highest token of respect that can be given; and it is still an essential act of homage to the great. He knew that the issue wasn’t Abigail’s gender, but that God used her at that time and place. Then David said to Abigail: “Blessed is the LORD God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! Changes will take effect once you reload the page. Abigail smoothly suggested the positive outcome to David in her appeal (the LORD has held you back from coming to bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand). 1 Samuel 25:26. We have here some intermission of David’s troubles by Saul. And David arose and went down to the wilderness of Paran. So it was, in the morning, when the wine had gone from Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Jesus may have had Nabal in mind when He taught the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:15-21). And thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity: ‘Peace be to you, peace to your house, and peace to all that you have! But don't worry, he'll be back. Nabal was a very rich man, but only rich in what he had. And she said to her servants, “Go on before me; see, I am coming after you.” But she did not tell her husband Nabal. Seeing the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood — Nothing could possibly be spoken to David with more effect, to turn away his wrath, than thus to insinuate such an opinion of his goodness and clemency, as already to conclude she had diverted him from his purpose; or, rather, that God had interposed by his good providence to hinder him from shedding blood. Blessed be the LORD God of Israel: David was on a sinful course and Abigail, through her bold, quick, and wise appeal, stopped him from sin. Please print this section if you would like to study the Book of 1 Samuel with a group of people. So, Abigail is not really David’s second wife; she is his “second first wife.”. Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary 1 Samuel 25:2. They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the time we were with them keeping the sheep. He did it through messengers so Nabal would not be intimidated. Masters usually entertained their shepherds; and even Nabal, though of a most niggardly disposition, prepared festivities on a scale of sumptuous liberality. He prayed daily for them. Scriptures: 1 Samuel 25:14-17, 23-28, 32-35. (A)24 She fell at his feet and said: “Pardon your servant, my lord,(B)and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say.25 Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. Chapter 25. We may request cookies to be set on your device. There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. Now when Abigail saw David, she hastened to dismount from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground. i. i. 2. in Carmel--now Kurmul. buried him in his house at Ramah--that is, his own mausoleum. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. d. So David received from her hand: It is important to remember that Abigail did not come to David empty-handed. This had to make a startling impression on David. Application: Explain how Hannah’s prayer related to her own case. There are four kinds of riches. "To the wilderness of Paran" (1 Samuel 25:1 b). Here, David certainly remembered her and he took her as his wife. (Matthew 5:38-39). Unlike David (see 1 Samuel 22:10, 15), Saul is not accustomed to seeking divine guidance. Part 1 - 1 Samuel chapter 1 - Samuel: the boy whose mother gave him to God. c. Know and consider what you will do, for harm is determined: Nabal’s servants read the handwriting on the wall. He sent the messengers with a greeting full of warmth and kindness (Peace be to you), so Nabal would not give out of fear or intimidation. i. David took his 400 men to do what God could do as easily as throwing a stone out of sling. Abigail asked David not to do something he would later regret, when God’s promise was ultimately fulfilled (that this will be no grief to you… that you have shed blood without cause). Copyright © 2021, Bible Study Tools. First Samuel 25:1-31 shows us the Lord's restraining providence in the life of his servant. 1 Samuel 25:3. viii. ii. His marriage with Abigail brought him a rich estate. Actually, it's been so long since we've seen or heard from Samuel, we almost forgot he existed. The *Philistines return the *ark of God to *Israel. . Nabal--signifying fool, gave pertinence to his wife's remark. “As the word caleb signifies a dog, the Septuagint have understood it as implying a man of a canine disposition, and translate it thus… he was a doggish man. Please print this section if you would like to study the Book of 1 Samuel with a group of people. Nabal's refusal, therefore, was a violation of the established usages of the place. In Derailed Tim Irwin looks at six CEOs who derailed their company. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. b. David sent and proposed to Abigail: In 1 Samuel 25:31, Abigail asked David, then remember your maidservant. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie.